Plymouth’s Iconic Heritage Sites Reopen for the Season
13 March 2026
One of our favourite times of year is nearly upon us! As the days grow longer, two of the city’s most loved heritage sites - Smeaton’s Tower and Elizabethan House - are getting ready to open their doors once again this April. Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time visitor, it’s a chance for you to step into the past, soak up spectacular views, and rediscover stories that have shaped the city for centuries.
Smeaton’s Tower
After its winter closure, Smeaton’s Tower will reopen on Wednesday 1 April 2026, ready to welcome visitors back up its 93 steps. Originally completed in 1759 and later painstakingly rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, this beautifully restored lighthouse offers some of the most breathtaking views of Plymouth Sound, the surrounding cityscape and beyond to Dartmoor and Cornwall. Inside, the lantern room and interiors have been carefully preserved, giving visitors a real sense of what life was like for lighthouse keepers who once battled the elements out on the Eddystone Reef.
Whether you're visiting for the first time or making your annual pilgrimage, a visit to Smeaton’s Tower is one of those places that marks the arrival of brighter days in Plymouth!
Plan your visit to Smeaton's Tower
Our summer opening hours are 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday from Wednesday 1 April-Sunday 27 September 2026, plus selected Bank Holidays including Good Friday and Easter Monday (closed on Easter Sunday). It will be open on weekends from Saturday 3-Sunday 25 October and Tuesday-Sunday from 27 October-1 November. Visit the Plan Your Visit page for the full opening times and pricing information.
Elizabethan House
Just a short stroll away in the Barbican, Elizabethan House is set to reopen on Friday 3 April 2026. This rare 400-year-old survivor, most recently restored as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations, offers an atmospheric experience across its historic rooms. Visitors can explore at their own pace on a self-guided tour, with ambient audio bringing the house’s layers of history to life. Here you’ll find out more about the shipbuilders, merchants and families who weathered Plymouth’s many centuries of change. It’s an intimate, characterful space that feels worlds apart from the modern city just outside its door.
Plan your visit to Elizabethan House
Our summer opening hours are 12-4pm on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 April-26 September 2026 (including Good Friday and Easter Saturday). Visit the Plan Your Visit page for the full opening times and pricing information.
Make the Most of Your Visit
With both sites reopening within days of each other, April is the perfect time to plan a heritage themed day out. Why not start your morning on the Hoe with a climb up Smeaton’s Tower, before heading to the Barbican for lunch and then stepping into the Elizabethan House in the afternoon?
As always, our team are on hand at both sites to help you make the most of your visit. We hope to welcome you soon!